Nokia, Microsoft bung student mobe devs £7.5m to 'ideate'

Cash pot lure to find the next Rovio

Common Topics

Nokia and Microsoft are pumping €9m (£7.5m) into a university to promote app development and startups that'll feed their mobile tech alliance.

Finland's Aalto University will receive the cash to fund a new software development programme called AppCampus over the next three years, the companies said Monday.

The scheme aims to "foster the creation of innovative mobile applications" and small biz for Windows Phone and Nokia platforms including Symbian and the Series 40.

Devs and entrepreneurs will get mentoring and training in mobile tech, design and usability as well as funding.

In a statement, Nokia executive vice-president Kai Öistämö said: "The partnership will allow developers to ideate and monetize business opportunities globally, via both Windows Phone Marketplace and Nokia Store."

Yes, he said "ideate".

Aalto University was created in July 2010 through the merger of Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki University of Technology and the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Nokia board chairman Jorma Ollila - who was chairman and and CEO until 2006 - graduated from Helsinki University as a master of science in engineering. ®